Weapon Barrel Having Integrated Suppressor

ABSTRACT

A monolithic barrel for a weapon has an integral suppressor. The barrel and integral suppressor can be machined from a single piece of material, which can eliminate the need to attach separate components to the barrel. The monolithic barrel has a barrel bore for firing a projectile that produces discharge gas. To suppress the discharge, the barrel defines one or more baffles separating expansion chambers toward a distal end of the barrel. The barrel further defines one or more channels along the length of the barrel that provide extend flow paths for the discharge gas from the barrel&#39;s bore. Greater reductions in sound can be achieved relative to the overall barrel length due to the integral suppressor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Prov. Appl. 62/021,548,filed 7 Jul. 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Suppressors for guns have existed in various incarnations since at leastthe early twentieth century. Also known as silencers, suppressors serveto reduce noise associated with the firing of the gun. When used, thesuppressor may also serve other functions, such as reducing oreliminating muzzle flash (the visible light of a muzzle blast caused bythe combustion products of the gunpowder mixing with the ambient air)and reducing or eliminating blasts of high-pressure gasses escaping themuzzle, which can reveal a shooter's position by kicking up dust andfoliage. While suppressor technology has applications in the realm ofcivilian firearms, it is especially important in the conduct of militaryoperations. Indeed, combat is the arena in which suppressor performanceis the most critical and it is also the environment that is the mosttaxing on equipment, including suppressor equipment.

FIG. 1A schematically illustrates a common suppressor concept. Thesuppressor 20 connects to a barrel 10 of a gun (not shown) by aconnecting mechanism, such as a threaded section 12. The suppressor 20uses a series of baffles 24 contained within a chamber 22 (oftenreferred to as a “can”) to slow the gasses that are expelled from barrel10 after the projectile has exited the barrel 10. The slowing anddissipation of the pressure wave of gasses results in a decrease ofaudible report of the gunfire.

Another type of suppressor used in the art is an over-barrel suppressor,such as shown in FIG. 1B. The over-barrel suppressor 30 includes ajacket 32 that telescopes over the end of the barrel 10. A bushingarrangement 34 at one end can attach the jacket 32 to the barrel 10, andan intermediate mount 36 can support the jacket 32 at the distal end ofthe barrel 10. Extending beyond the muzzle of the barrel 10, the jacket32 contains a reflector 37 and various baffles 38. The jacket 32contains an expansion chamber 35 for gas that communicates with themuzzle extension portion having the reflector 37 and baffles 38.

While popular media, such as television and movies, would lead one tobelieve that gunfire from a silencer or suppressor like the onesillustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B is almost inaudible, reality is quitedifferent. For example, a Remington XM2010 sniper rifle shooting .300Winchester Magnum ammunition, as presently deployed by the United StatesArmy in Afghanistan, has an unsuppressed audible report of about 168-DB.The presently deployed suppressor reduces the report to about 136-DB,significantly quieter, but still louder than a jackhammer or a jetaircraft.

Attachable/detachable suppressors, such as disclosed above, suffer fromseveral drawbacks. One drawback is that the harmonics of the gun barrelchanges when a suppressor is attached to the barrel or when onesuppressor is replaced with another. When a gun is fired, the gun barrelvibrates. The vibration is a function of several characteristics of thebarrel, including its length, tensile properties, and weightdistribution. Additionally, when a gun is calibrated (i.e., sighted in),the barrel harmonics are implicit within that calibration. Adding asuppressor changes the weight distribution of the barrel, therebychanging the harmonics with which the barrel vibrates upon firing. Thatchange will result in a change in the point of impact (POI) of theprojectile on a target, compared to the POI of the unsuppressed gun.Thus, the gun must be re-sighted when a suppressor is added. Even if onesuppressor is substituted for another similar suppressor, the barrelharmonics will be slightly different, requiring a re-sighting.

Another drawback of an attachable/detachable suppressor is that thepoint of attachment constitutes a structural weakness. Particularly inthe rigors of combat, a gun barrel may be subjected to impacts,vibrations, torsions, and the like. Such stresses can compromise theattachment of the suppressor to the barrel, leading either to failure orto a decrease in accuracy.

The slight irreproducibility of suppressor attachment also negativelyimpacts accuracy because the trajectory of a projectile through thesuppressor may become off center with respect to the baffles. As theprojectile, travelling at high velocity, passes structures within thesuppressor, pressure differentials are created between the structuresand the projectile. If the projectile's path is not absolutelycircumferential, the pressure differentials will not be completelysymmetrical and will tend to pull the projectile in one direction. Smalldeviations in trajectory as the projectile leaves the suppressortranslate to unacceptably large deviations downrange.

The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming,or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems setforth above.

SUMMARY

A monolithic barrel for a weapon has an integral suppressor. The barreland integral suppressor can be machined from a single piece of material,which can eliminate the need to attach separate components to thebarrel. By eliminating the need to attach such separate components, thedisclosed barrel eliminates the problems discussed above, whichprimarily derive from the attachment mechanism.

The monolithic barrel has a barrel bore for firing a projectile thatproduces discharge gas. To suppress the discharge, the barrel definesone or more baffles separating expansion chambers toward a distal end ofthe barrel. The barrel further defines one or more channels along thelength of the barrel that provide extended flow paths for the dischargegas from the barrel's bore. Greater reductions in sound can be achievedrelative to the overall barrel length due to the integral suppressor.

These and other advantages will be apparent to a person of skill in theart in view of the following description and attached drawings. Theforegoing summary is not intended to summarize each potential embodimentor every aspect of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate prior art suppressor systems.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a monolithic suppressor barrelaccording to the present disclosure in a partially disassembled state.

FIG. 3A illustrates the disclosed suppressor barrel disposed on aweapon.

FIG. 3B illustrates details of the disclosed suppressor barrel disposedon the weapon.

FIG. 4 illustrates an end-sectional view of the disclosed suppressorbarrel.

FIG. 5 illustrates gas flow during operation of the disclosed suppressorbarrel.

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate a side view and an end-sectional view of analternative embodiment of the disclosed suppressor barrel.

FIG. 7 illustrates an end-sectional view of yet another embodiment ofthe disclosed suppressor barrel.

FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate cross-sectional and end-sectional views of anembodiment of a monolithic suppressor barrel configured for a firearmhaving a gas-operated loading action.

FIG. 8C illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of amonolithic suppressor barrel configured for a firearm having agas-operated loading action.

FIGS. 9A-9D illustrate alternative configurations for the disclosedsuppressor barrel of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates a configuration of the disclosed suppressor barrelarranged for use with one particular type of riffle.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a monolithic suppressor barrel 100in a partially disassembled state. In this embodiment, the barrel 100includes a sleeve or tubular cover 110 that positions over a barrelpiece or body 120. The tubular cover 110 has proximal and distal ends112 and 114 with a central passage 115 extending therethrough. The cover110 is configured to fit around the barrel body 120 and may be attachedvia mating threaded sections 116 and 126 on the cover 110 and barrelbody 120, respectively.

When disposed on the barrel body 120, for example, the proximal end 112attaches or connects near a proximal end 122 of the barrel body 120,while the distal end 114 positions up toward a distal end 124 of thebarrel body 120. To hold the cover 110 in place, internal threads of thecentral passage 115 toward the cover's proximal end 112 can thread toexternal threads 126 on the barrel body 120, although other features canbe used to affix the cover 110. Additionally, the barrel body 120 mayinclude one or more grooves 128 for O-rings, which may serve to form aseal between the barrel body 120 and the cover 110 and to keep thosepieces concentric to each other. Additionally, the O-rings may minimizeor dampen the contact between the cover 110 and the barrel body 120,which could improve barrel harmonics.

For its part, the barrel body 120 is composed of a monolithic piece ofmaterial, such as steel, machined with a number of features disclosedherein. In general, the barrel body 120 has a breech section 121 atoward the proximal end 122, an intermediate barrel section 121 b, and asuppressor section 121 c toward the distal end 124. The breech section121 a can have grooves 128 for O-rings or other seals to engage betweenthe exterior of the barrel body 120 and the interior passage 115 of thetubular cover 110. The barrel section 121 b has one or more channels 140(e.g., slots, pockets, flutes, etc.) communicating with cross ports 142,and the suppressor section 121 c has one or more baffles 150. With thetubular cover 110 disposed over the extent of the barrel body 120, themonolithic suppressor barrel 100 can mount to a weapon (not shown), suchas a firearm, gun, rifle, artillery, or the like, and the barrel 100 canact to suppress the discharge from firing the weapon.

Looking at the monolithic suppressor barrel 100 in more detail, FIG. 3Aschematically illustrates the disclosed barrel 100 assembled on a weapon30 (e.g., a rifle), and FIG. 3B illustrates detailed cross-sections ofvarious portions of the disclosed barrel 100 integrated with componentsof the rifle 30. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, the breech section 121 a isadapted to integrate with a receiver 50 of the rifle 30 and contains achamber 138 for a round of ammunition. Depending on the type of weapon,the breech section 102 a may integrate with the gun's receiver 50 usingthreads 123, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3B, or by any other attachmentsystem known in the art.

The barrel section 121 b defines the one or more channels 140 formedalong a length of the barrel body 120. The channels 140 terminate atcross ports 142 at a distance from the breech 121 a. The cross ports 142form a muzzle brake, creating a path through which expanding gassesescape from the barrel's bore 130 during firing.

As disclosed herein, various forms and shapes can be used for thechannels 140. In the current embodiment, the channels 140 are externalflutes 140 formed axially along the exterior surface of the barrel body120. The one or more flutes 140 are defined along the axis of the barrelbody 120 for preferably a near full extent of the barrel section 121 bto create an extended expansion volume. Increasing the expansion volumefrom the flutes 140 can be achieved by increasing the number of theflutes 140, the width or depth of the flutes 140, etc. Moreover, theflutes 140 can be increased in length by being defined in a spiral orwinding pattern down the length of the barrel body 120.

Finally, the suppressor section 121 c has the one or more baffles 150,separating a number of expansion chambers 152 from one another.Extending over the extent of the barrel body 120, the cover 110 affixedto the threads 126 near the breech section 121 a covers and encloses theflutes 140, the cross ports 142, and the expansion chambers 152 of thebaffles 150. An end cap 118, threads, or other feature may be providedat the barrel's distal end to further affix the cover 110 on the barrelbody 120.

Preferably, the cross ports 142 and the flutes 140 are symmetricallydisposed around the circumference of barrel section 121 b. In general,the number of cross ports 142 and flutes 140 can depend on thecircumference of the barrel body 120; a larger barrel body 120 canaccommodate more sets of cross ports 142 and flutes 140. For example,the barrel body 120 for a smaller firearm may have four sets of crossports 142 and flutes 140 (i.e., two pairs disposed opposite each other).The barrel body 120 for a larger firearm (e.g., .50 caliber and above)and artillery may accommodate a greater number of cross ports 142 andflutes 140.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the breech section 121 a affixes to the receiver 50of the rifle 30 and can connect by a threaded connection 123. Otherforms of connection may be used for different types of weapons. In anyevent, the breech section 121 a positions up to the bolt face 52 of therifle 30. A shoulder 125 on the breech section 121 a can assist inpositioning.

The barrel bore 130 is defined along the extent of the barrel body 120.Towards the breach section 121 a, the barrel bore 130 defines thechamber 138 for the ammunition. A first shoulder 137 narrows the chamber138 to a neck 136, which narrows by a second shoulder to a free borearea 134 ahead of the throat to a barrel portion 131 b of the barrelbore 130. Other weapons may have different chambers 138 and otherfeatures. Rifling 132 in the form of lands and grooves are definedinside the barrel portion 131 b. This rifling 132 continues along thebarrel portion 131 b up to at least the cross ports 142 communicatingthe barrel bore 130 with the enclosed flutes 140.

Continuing further along the barrel 120, the suppressor section 121 ccontains baffles 150 and has a suppressor portion 131 c of the barrelbore 130 eventually exiting from the muzzle of the barrel 120. Thebaffles 150 separate chambers 152, openings, holes, angled walls, etc.machined into the monolithic piece of the barrel body 120. The baffles150 can have any number of possible shapes and arrangements and are onlyrepresentatively illustrated here.

As with the flutes 140, the number of baffles 150 may depend on thecircumference of the suppressor section 121 c and/or the length of thebarrel body 120. The baffles 150 are generally disposed symmetricallyabout the circumference. The operation of cross ports 142, the flutes140, and baffles 150 will be explained in more detail below.

The diameter of cross ports 142 is typically significantly larger thanthe diameter of the bore 130 through the interior of suppressor section121 c. For example, the portion 131 b of the bore 130 through the barrelsection 121 b of a .308-caliber rifle may essentially be 0.308-inches indiameter. The bore portion 131 c through the suppressor section 121 cmay be slightly larger than the barrel's bore portion 131 b so that theprojectile does not inadvertently crash into the walls of the suppressorsection 121 c. According to certain embodiments, about 25 to 30thousandths of an inch gap exists between the circumferential edges ofthe projectile and the wall of the bore portion 131 c in the suppressorsection 121 c. Thus, the bore portion 131 c through the suppressorsection 121 c configured for a .308 caliber rifle may have a diameter ofabout 0.358-inches.

In comparison, the cross ports 142 in the same barrel 100 may have adiameter about 40 to about 60 percent larger than the suppressor's boreportion 131 c. In the case of a .308-caliber round, the cross ports 142may have a diameter of about 0.400 to about 0.500-inches, for example.Thus, substantially more gas can escape through the plurality of crossports 142 than enters the bore portion 131 c through the suppressorsection 121 c.

FIG. 4 is an end-sectional view the barrel section 121 b showing onepossible arrangement of flutes 140 disposed around the exterior of thebarrel body 120. Here, the body 120 has four flutes 140 formed in themonolithic piece of the body 120 around barrel bore 130. These fourflutes 140 make four ribs 145 adjacent which the inside of the tubularcover 110 positions. To further divide the enclosed volumes of theflutes 140, sealing elements can be disposed along the length of theribs 145 to engage inside the cover 110.

As explained in more detail below, the flutes 140 are made by machiningvoids into barrel section 121 b. That machining leaves the ribs 145,which lend strength and stability to barrel body 120 and reduce unwantedharmonics. The fluting not only decreases the weight of the barrel 120,but also increases the surface area, which can have additional benefits.

FIG. 5 illustrates the flow of discharge gas during operation of thedisclosed barrel 100. For clarity, some of the items already labeled anddescribed with reference to other Figures are not specifically relabeledhere, and components to produce the discharge are not depicted. Uponfiring, the projectile (e.g., the bullet) travels through barrel bore130, passes from the barrel section 121 b into the suppressor section121 c, and ultimately leaves the barrel 120 at the muzzle 121 d. Behindthe projectile is a high-pressure wave of rapidly expanding andextremely hot discharge gas. In an unsuppressed rifle, the exit of thatgas from a muzzle causes the report of the rifle.

In the suppressor barrel 100 disclosed herein, however, the dischargegas (represented by the lines having arrows indicating direction offlow) is directed through the cross ports 142 as it exits the barrelbore 130 of the barrel section 121 b. The flutes 140 then act asexpansion chambers, creating space for the expanding gas. The gas coolsand slows as it expands. Sound and muzzle flash are thereby reduced. Theexpansion volume defined between the cover 110 and the barrel section121 b may be greater than the expansion volume between the suppressorsection 121 c and the cover 110. Thus, the gas expands preferentiallytoward the breech section 121 a until it reaches near the end of theflutes 140, the O-rings, or other seals that are disposed at theproximal end of the system 100.

Having expanded into and pressurized the volume between the barrelsection 121 b and the cover 110, the gas continues to expand into thebore portion 131 c of the suppressor section 121 c. As the gas passesthrough the suppressor's bore portion 131 c, the baffles 150 furtherslow the expansion, creating eddies and vortices in the chambers 152 anddiverting the gas off its centerline of expansion. The gas then exitsthe end of suppressor section 121 c out the muzzle 121 d at greatlyreduced pressure.

The number, length, volume, size, and other features of the flutes 140,cross ports 142, and baffles 150 can be configured and machined on thedisclosed suppressor barrel 100 to achieve an amount of desiredsuppression, accommodate different ammunitions, adapt to differentweapons, dissipate heat, deal with vibrations, etc. For example, thebarrel 120 depicted in the side view of FIG. 6A and the end-section viewof FIG. 6B has six cross ports 142, flutes 140, and ribs 145. Asmentioned above, the diameter of the barrel section 121 b and the roundgenerally limit the number of cross ports 142 and flutes 140 that thebarrel body 120 can accommodate. Yet, more or less flutes 140, crossports 142, and the like can be configured, arranged, and sized as neededdepending on the implementation.

As will be appreciated, the baffles 150 may typically require a tube orcan, such as provided by the external cover 110 disclosed herein, toenclose the chambers 152. All the same, it may be possible to machinethe channels 140 as longitudinal slots or holes fully enclosed in theinterior of the barrel body 120 parallel to the barrel bore 130, ratherthan as external flutes requiring separate enclosure from a cover. Forexample, FIG. 7 shows an end section of the barrel body 120 with suchparallel channels 140, slots, or pockets enclosed in the interior of thebarrel body 120. In this case, use of the external cover 110 to enclosethe channels 140 may not be necessary. Cross ports 142 can be definedthrough the barrel body 120 to the barrel bore 130 to communicate withthe channels 140, and the external ends of the cross ports 142 can becapped or plugged with an element or material 144. As will beappreciated, machining elongated channels 140 offset from barrel bore130 presents much more complexity than defining open channels 140 as inthe form of the flutes in previous embodiments on the barrel body'sexternal surface and enclosing those flutes 140 with the cover 110. Forthis reason, use of the cover 110 on the barrel 100 may be preferred toenclose externally formed flutes for the channels 140.

Some weapons require manual loading of bullets into the chamber of thebarrel. Other weapons have loading mechanisms that are gas-operated anduse gases from the barrel to charge the mechanisms. The disclosedsuppressor barrel 100 can be configured to operate with these types ofgas-operated loading mechanisms.

For example, FIG. 8A illustrates an alternative embodiment of amonolithic suppressor barrel 100, which includes a gas port 160 to allowoperation of a rifle employing a gas-operated loading mechanism.Examples of such rifles include various automatic/semiautomatic smallarms, such as the M-16/AR-15 series of rifles. As shown in thecross-section of FIG. 8A and the end-section of FIG. 8B, the bore 130 isconfigured with a tap 162 to communicate or vent some of the expandinggas from the bore 130 toward the exterior of the barrel 120. Alongitudinal port 166 defined along the length of the barrel 120 in arib 145 directs the vented gas toward the loading mechanism (i.e., theaction) of the receiver 50 to cycle the (semi)-automatic capabilities.Due to machining requirements, a plug 164 or seal may be needed at theconnection of the tap 162 and port 166.

Rather than having an internal port for vented gas, the barrel 120 caninclude external components. For example, FIG. 8C shows the barrel body120 in cross-section having a vent tap 162 communicating from the barrelbore 130. The tap 162 connects with an external line 170, which feedsthe gas to the action of the receiver 50. Any suitable form of line 170conventionally used for cycling the gas can be used.

In the embodiments of the disclosed suppressor barrel 100, the barrelbody 120 is composed of a monolithic piece of material having a tubularcover 110 disposed about the exterior. The monolithic piece of the body120 defines at least the barrel bore 130, the one or more cross ports142, and the one or more channels or flutes 140 integrally therein. Themonolithic piece of the body 120 also defines the one or more baffles150 integrally formed therein. The tubular cover 110 encloses the one ormore channels or flutes 140 and the one or more chambers 152 of thebaffles 150. This arrangement is well suited for manufacture andassembly.

For instance, use of the external cover 110 facilitates assembly of thedisclosed barrel 100. In essence, the barrel body 120 can be apre-machined barrel blank suitable for the firearm on which it is to beused. As such, the various features of the chamber 138, shoulders 137,bore 130, rifling 132, etc. can be pre-machined on the blank accordingto the weapon manufacturer's requirements. In this way, an advantage ofthe monolithic barrel 100 having an integral suppressor as disclosedherein is that the entire barrel and suppressor monolith can be machinedfrom a single barrel blank.

To configure the pre-machined blank for use as the disclosed barrel 100,the barrel bore 131 c of the bore is reamed to increase its diameter.The flutes 140, the cross ports 142, and the chambers 152 separated bythe baffles 150 are machined integrally into the blank to form thefeatures of the breech section 121 a, the barrel section 121 b, and thesuppressor section 121 c. Threads 126 can be machined on the exterioralong with seal grooves 128 and other features. The tubular cover 100 isthen used to enclose the baffle chambers 152 and the flutes 140. As theentire assembly is a single piece of material, it overcomes thedrawbacks associated with mechanically joining a suppressor to a barrel,as described above.

Other arrangements can be used for the disclosed suppressor barrel 100.For example, FIG. 9A illustrates the barrel body 120 having the channelsor flutes 140 as before. As noted above, the cross ports 142 forcommunicating discharge gas to the flutes 140 can be defined toward thedistal end of the barrel section 121 b. This allows a significant lengthof the barrel bore 130 to include continuous rifling. The cross ports142 can be placed elsewhere, and each of the flutes 140 can have morethan one cross port 142. For example, FIG. 9A depicts one possiblelocation for a cross port 144 that can be used in conjunction with (orinstead of) the distal cross port 142. Any of the other flutes 140 canhave similar cross ports 144 in this or other locations.

In previous embodiments, the barrel body 120 is composed of a monolithicpiece of material, which is typically steel. This is not strictlynecessary. Instead, as shown in FIG. 9B, the majority of the barrel'sbody 120 can be composed of a first material 104, which can be amaterial other than steel. Some examples for the first material 104 caninclude plastic, composite, metal other than steel (e.g., aluminum), adifferent type of steel, or other types of materials. Disposed internalto this first material 104, the barrel body 120 includes a bore insert105 that forms the barrel bore 130 for the barrel body 120. This boreinsert 105 can be made of the requisite material (i.e., steel) withproper rifling, chamber, and other features.

Although more than one baffle 150 may be preferred, the number ofbaffles 150 used can vary. As a brief example, FIG. 9C illustrates onechamber 152 from baffle(s) 150 formed on the barrel body 120 at the endof the barrel section 121 b. Although the benefits from baffling may bediminished with this arrangement, the barrel 100 can still operateaccording to its intended purpose.

With that said, it is possible for the disclosed barrel 100 to lackbaffling altogether toward the muzzle. Instead, the distal end of thebarrel section 121 b can terminate with the flutes 140 (and with thecross ports 142 if so placed). In this context, the disclosed barrel 120can still operate according to its intended purpose because the flutes140 and cross-ports 142 achieve some of the suppression.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 9D, the baffles 150 can be included in aseparate suppressor section 106 that connects to the distal end of thebarrel section 121 b of the barrel body 120. Any conventional type ofconnection 108 (i.e., threaded, telescopic, etc.) can be used betweenthe barrel section 121 b and the separate suppressor section 106. Inthis context, the suppressor section 106 can be of conventional designhaving a can or cover with a chamber containing internal baffles. Inthis case, the breech section 121 a and the barrel section 121 b can beintegrally formed of a first material (e.g., steel), while the bafflesection 121 c can be composed of a second, different material (e.g.,aluminum).

Previous embodiments, such as in FIGS. 3A-3B, have shown one way toaffix the barrel 100 to the receiver 50. As already noted, barrels canaffix to receivers in a number of ways, and the features of thedisclosed barrel 100 can be adapted to the different forms of affixing.As one additional example, FIG. 10 illustrates a configuration of thedisclosed suppressor barrel 100 arranged for use with one particulartype of riffle, such as an M16/AR-15 type of firearm.

In FIG. 10, the upper receiver 200 of the riffle is shown, and variousother components, such as the lower receiver and the like, are omitted.The upper receiver 200 holds a charging handle 204 and a carrier 206therein. The barrel body 120 of the present disclosure can have many ofthe features disclosed herein, such as the channel or flutes 140, crossports 142, baffles 150, etc. The barrel body 120 may also have sealslots 128.

In addition to these and other previously described features, theproximal end of the barrel body 120 includes a narrow relief or end 127b and a threaded tip 127 b on which a barrel nut 210 and a barrelextension 220 are used to assemble the barrel body 120 to the receiver200. In particular, the barrel nut 210 fits onto the narrow end 127 a ofthe barrel body 120. This is done because the inner-shouldered opening217 of the barrel nut 210 is too small to fit down along the length ofthe barrel body 120 as conventionally done. With the barrel nut 210first fit onto the narrow end 127 a, the barrel extension 220 thenattaches onto the narrow end 127 a. As can be seen, the barrel extension220 has internal threads 227 to mate with the threaded tip 127 b of thebarrel's end 127 a.

With the barrel extension 220 installed, the barrel nut 210 is nowtrapped on the end 127 a by the extension's shoulder 222. At this point,the barrel extension 220 fits into the front opening 202 of the upperreceiver 200 so that the extension's face 228 mates with the bolt end208 of the carrier 206 inside the receiver 200. Internal threads 212 inthe barrel nut 210 then threads to the receiver 200 at the opening 202,and the internal shoulder 217 of the nut 210 engages against theextension's shoulder 222 to hold the barrel body 120 in place.

Finally, the barrel cover 110 can slide down along the length of thebarrel body 120, and a threaded lip 111 on its end can thread tointernal threads 211 inside the barrel nut 210. Various other elements(not shown) can also be assembled to support other components, such as ahand guard, heat shields, liners, caps, a gas tube, etc.

The foregoing description of preferred and other embodiments is notintended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of theinventive concepts conceived of by the Applicants. It will beappreciated with the benefit of the present disclosure that featuresdescribed above in accordance with any embodiment or aspect of thedisclosed subject matter can be utilized, either alone or incombination, with any other described feature, in any other embodimentor aspect of the disclosed subject matter.

In exchange for disclosing the inventive concepts contained herein, theApplicants desire all patent rights afforded by the appended claims.Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims include allmodifications and alterations to the full extent that they come withinthe scope of the following claims or the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A barrel for a weapon having a receiver andfiring a projectile that produces discharge gas, the barrel comprising:a barrel body having an exterior and defining a bore therethrough from aproximal end to a distal end, the proximal end connecting to thereceiver, the barrel body defining one or more channels, the one or morechannels being enclosed by the exterior and being integrated along afirst length of the barrel body, the bore defining one or more portscommunicating the bore with the one or more channels, the one or moreports communicating the discharge gas between the bore and the one ormore channels.
 2. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the exterior of thebarrel body comprises a tubular disposed external to the barrel body andenclosing the one or more channels.
 3. The barrel of claim 2, wherein atleast one end of the tubular affixes to the barrel body.
 4. The barrelof claim 2, wherein the tubular seals at least partially to the barrelbody.
 5. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the barrel body further definesone or more baffles being integrated along a second length of the barrelbody and defining one or more chambers internally communicating with aportion of the bore.
 6. The barrel of claim 5, wherein the exterior ofthe barrel body comprises a tubular disposed external to the barrel bodyand enclosing the one or more chambers.
 7. The barrel of claim 1,wherein the proximal end of the barrel body comprises a breech adaptedto connect to the receiver.
 8. The barrel of claim 7, wherein the breechdefines a chamber communicating with a throat of the bore in the barrelbody.
 9. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the bore defines rifling fromtoward the proximal end up to at least the one or more cross ports. 10.The barrel of claim 1, wherein the barrel body defines a gas porttherein communicating at an inlet with a portion of the bore andcommunicating at an outlet with a portion of the receiver.
 11. Thebarrel of claim 1, wherein the barrel body defines a gas port thereincommunicating at an inlet with a portion of the barrel bore andcommunicating at an outlet with an external line disposed along thebarrel body to the receiver.
 12. The barrel of claim 1, wherein thebarrel body is composed of first and second materials, the secondmaterial formed as an insert disposed in the first material, the inserthaving at least a portion of the bore.
 13. The barrel of claim 1,wherein the barrel body is composed of a monolithic piece of materialdefining at least the bore, the one or more cross ports, and the one ormore channels integrally therein.
 14. The barrel of claim 1, wherein thebarrel body is composed of a monolithic piece of first material having atubular piece of second material as the exterior disposed thereabout,the monolithic piece defining at least the bore, the one or more crossports, and the one or more channels integrally therein, the tubularenclosing the one or more channels.
 15. A weapon for firing a projectilethat produces discharge gas, the weapon comprising: a receiver; and abarrel body having an exterior and defining a bore therethrough from aproximal end to a distal end, the proximal end connecting to thereceiver, the barrel body defining one or more channels, the one or morechannels being enclosed by the exterior and being integrated along afirst length of the barrel body, the bore defining one or more portscommunicating the bore with the one or more channels, the one or moreports communicating the discharge gas between the bore and the one ormore channels.
 16. The weapon of claim 15, wherein the receivercomprises a receiver of a rifle.
 17. A method of manufacturing a barrelfor a weapon used for firing a projectile that produces discharge gas,the method comprising: integrating one or more channels along a firstlength of a barrel body; communicating the one or more integratedchannels with a bore of the barrel body; and enclosing the one or moreintegrated channels internally in communication with the bore.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein integrating the one or more channels alongthe first length of the barrel body comprises machining one or moreflutes as the one or more channels along the first length of the barrelbody in an external surface thereof.
 19. The method of claim 18, whereincommunicating the one or more integrated channels with the bore of thebarrel body comprises defining one or more ports in the barrel bodycommunicating the one or more flutes with the bore.
 20. The method ofclaim 18, wherein enclosing the one or more integrated channelsinternally in communication with the bore comprises disposing a tubularat least partially about the external surface of the barrel body. 21.The method of claim 17, further comprising integrating one or morechambers separated by baffles in a second length of the barrel body andin communication with the bore.
 22. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising enclosing the one or more integrated chambers internally incommunication with the bore.
 23. The method of claim 22, whereinenclosing the one or more integrated chambers internally incommunication with the bore comprises disposing a tubular at leastpartially about the external surface of the barrel body.
 24. The methodof claim 17, comprising initially taking a monolithic piece of firstmaterial for the barrel body having the bore, wherein integrating theone or more channels and communicating the one or more integratedchannels with the bore are performed in the monolithic piece.
 25. Themethod of claim 24, wherein enclosing the one or more integratedchannels internally in communication with the bore comprises disposing atubular piece of second material outside at least a portion of themonolithic piece of the first material.
 26. The method of claim 17,comprising initially taking a tubular piece of first material for thebarrel body having the bore and disposing the tubular piece in asurrounding piece of second material for the barrel body.